Process of treating woods.



if TUCK, a citizen of the United S" UNITED sTATne CHARLES H. SHATEUGK,

PRO GESS CF 3? 1,169,289. i 'No Drawing.

T aZZ: wh0m it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES, H

' ments in a process for treating woods, one

- szitficie'nt amount for the proper length of .object of the invention, being the provision ,of a process, by means of which the wood is colored and is made considerably lighter in weight, due'to the removal of the gums,

resins, etc, and by means of which the natural luster of the wood remains and in which the grains are made more beautiful in the finished wood.

In carrying out the present process, wood of any character, either green or dried,

placed in arretort capable of standing a pressure of 3:00 pounds to the square inch. Acid liquor derived from the destructive distillation of wood of any species'and secured by any process, is then introduced intonthe retort, and heatis then applied to a sufficient degree and at a pressure of a time to give the desired shade or color to the wood. The time varies with the species planks,

used, and with the sizeof the sticks or practice, that boards one inch thick will require from six to-ten hours to produce the desired effect.- The woodis then removed and exposed to the air, when it is found to dry very rapidly and in a much shorter time than is necessary to dry green lumber, or if desired, the wood may berunthrough It has been found that with this process the wood is colored through and through, and is considerably" 'lighter'in weight due to the removal of the gums and resins which are displaced by the lighter acid liquor, the water of whi s later evaporated leaving the colorii ofthe acid liquorin ever" fiber It has been found that is more easily worked than I and will take a very high and beautifui polish, even .without a filler. The wood tii'us treated has the natural luster when finished which is lacking where surface stainsand dyes are used, and is therefore much more beautiful as well as more permanent and Application filed Sew-ember 3.;

being approximately from two to forty-eight hours. It has been found in ffole of standing rougher usage than n' finished in fumed oak, or any of the ssion or other dark stains which are only -ndeep.

it has beenfound in practice that the acid liquor derived either from'the destructive distillation of wood in retorts or by means of hoods and condensers, will efi'ectually produce the desired coloring and seasoning and assists in reducing the weight of the wood, it having been found that the described procedure may be carried on with a simple apparatus, embodying merely a retort as before stated that may be sealed to. withstand approximately 100' pounds pres sure to the square inch. It is also possible to heat the retort exteriorly and force therein air or steam to produce the desired pres sure. It is therefore essential only that the lumber be treated with the acid liquor after having been placed in the retortg and after such retort is sealed, with the liquid thus supplied, that the wood be subjected to heat and pressure. This it has been foundcauses the'proper dissolving or extracting of the gums, resins and other natural oiis so that when the lumber is subjected to the atmospheric air, or in a dry kiln, the water from the acid liquor will evaporate and thus leave the wood permanently dyed or stain d the grain being brought out in most ful effects.

It is apparent that any ch tion that will be identical may be made by other or usually employed in ob ..ng the herein specified acid liquor, can be used in the present process and that therefore where the words iacid liquors derived "from the destructive distillation of wood occurs, any

beautisuch chemical composition is covered thereby.

What is claimed is placing the Wood a retort-With cid liquor derived from the destructive distillation of wood, and subjecting the contents of the retort to heat andpres sure to give the Wood, a color of one shade and then gradual]; in creasing the heat and pressure to. darken he color of the WO0d.'

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as; my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature .n' the presence of two Witnesses.

Vitnesses CHARLES H. SHATTUOK.

s. R. H. MGGQwAN, ED. VENNIGERHOLZ; 

